Feed dispensing silo



Dec 18, 1962 G. J. BRUECKER 3,068,839

FEED DISPENSING SILO Filed Aug. 11, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F [G j I INVENTOR.

BY @26 g Dec. 18, 1962 G. J. BRUECKER FEED DISPENSING SILO 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1961 Q1 INVENTOR.

P Y Z M M; W 6

Dec. 18, 1962 G. J. BRUECKER 3,

FEED DISPENSING SILO Filed Aug. 11, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

GER/74D 8191/5027? nit This invention generally relates to feed storage and dispensing silos, and more particularly to feed distributor means, associated with said silo, including novel ratchet drive mechanism.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a ratchet drive means for a silage distributor means that eliminates the jarring and jolting forces inherent in the usual ratchet drive means and the intermittent motion output thereof.

An object of this invention is the provision of novel rotatable ratchet means, for driving a silage distributor means, said ratchet means delivering a continuous output motion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel ratchet means wherein the output motion is of substantially constant velocity.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a ratchet drive means, for driving a silage distributor, said ratchet means delivering a substantially constant and continuous power output.

A further object is to provide continuous acting ratchet drive means, the power requirement thereof being much less than the intermittent acting conventional type of ratchet drive.

Other specific objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an elevation view, partly in section, of a silo, a feed trough therearound, and a ratchet drive invention associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is a fragmented full plan view of FIG. 1;

EEG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of ratchet drive means embodied in the invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the ratchet cam, embodied in the invention, showing the profile thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation viewof FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a full size side view of a pawl embodied in the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a substantially full size sectional view taken one line 77 of FIG. 1, showing an operative arrangement of the pawls relative to the ring gear embodied in the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a conventional cylindrical silo 19 having a vertical chute 11 built over the usual vertical slot in the silo Wall, said slot being provided with the usual removable panels or doors not shown. The chute originates at the top of the silo, and extends downwardly to guide silage feed from he silo and into an annular feed trough generally indicated at 12 that surrounds the silo.

The annular feed trough 12 comprises an annular deck 13 spaced above the ground and surrounds the silo, the inner periphery of the deck being disposed abutting the outer periphery of the silo.

Said deck is supported by a pair of spaced coaxial cylindrical supports or legs 14 and 15, leg 14 being disposed against tne silo, leg 15 being spaced from the rates tint 2 silo and disposed adjacent the outer edge of said annular deck.

A low cylindrical side wall 16, spaced from the silo and mounted on deck 13 along its outer edge, forms the outer wall of said trough 12.

The deck 13 forms the bottom of said trough 12, and the adjacent silo wall portion 17 serves as the remaining or inner wall of said annular trough 12-. Said feed trough is of a height suitable for cattle to feed therefrom.

The discharge opening 18 of the chute 11 is disposed above the feed trough 12 thereby cooperatively associating said discharge opening with the trough, whereby the chute discharges directly into the feed trough 12.

A housing-enclosed, reduction gear means generally indicated at 1, comprising a housing 20 and gears there in not shown, i mounted in the trough 12, on the bottom 13 thereof, adjacent the silo, as by means of bolt and nut means such as indicated at 21. On said reduction gear housing is mounted a motor support plate 22, for supporting motor 23 thereon, as by bolt and nut means such as indicated at 24. The drive means, comprising said motor 23 and reduction gear means 19, are of conventional design.

On the drive shaft of motor 23 there is fixedly mounted a pulley 25 drivably connected to the rotatable input shaft 26, of reduction gear means 19, through means of belt 27, and pulley 28 fixed on said input shaft 26. Said input shaft 26 is journalled in the reduction gear housing 2t through means of oppositely disposed bored bosses such as indicated at 3%.

Said pulley 28 is fixed to said input shaft 26 by means of set-screw 29 in a hub of said pulley, see FIG. 3.

A collar 31, fixed on the other end of input shaft 26 through means of set-screw 32, operatively retains said input shaft against axial displacement relative to the housing 20.

A reduction gear output shaft 33 is journalled in housing 20 through means of oppositely disposed bored bosses such as indicated at 34.

The input shaft 26 and the output shaft 33 are connected through means of suitable reduction gears, not shown, in housing Ell.

The inner end of output shaft 33 is provided with a collar 35 fixed to said shaft by means of set screw 35.

Mounted on the outwardly extending end of said output shaft 33 is a radially projecting annular flange or drive Wheel 37, fixed to said shaft 33 by any suitable means. Said flange 37 is provided with six equally spaced and circumferentially disposed threaded bores, such as indicated at 38.

Each of said bores receives a pin or stud bolt, such as indicated at 39, threadedly engaged therein. It is to be noted that the axes of said stud bolts are parallel to the axis of output shaft 33.

A plurality of pawls, such as generally indicated at 41, having bores therethrough such as indicated at 42, are pivotally mounted on said stud bolts 39.

Annulus 43, having six equally spaced and circumferentially disposed bores therein such as indicated at 44, is received by and disposed over the outer reduced diameter portion of the stud bolts such as indicated at 45, the annulus abutting the bolt shoulders such as indicated at 46. Nuts such as indicated at 47 threadedly engage the threaded reduced diameter portions 45 of the studbolts 39, and draw the annulus tightly against said shoulders.

It is to be noted that the pawls 41, disposed on said stud bolts 39 between annulus 43 and flange 37, are free to pivot on said stud bolts; and said studs 39 and annulus 43 are carried by and rotate with flange 37.

The motor support plate 22 is provided with a depending end portion 48. A cam generally indicated at 49 is 3 fixed to said depending portion 48 by means of screws 51 threadedly engaged in threaded bores 50. Said fixed cam 49, having a central bore 52, receives the outer end 53 of output shaft 33 therein, and extends into the zone between and circumscribed by the pawls 41 for operative coaction with said pawls.

It is to be noted that pawls 41, carried on rotatable flange 37, are caused to revolve around the fixed cam 49 and are actuated thereby.

The fixed tip-up cam 49 comprises an irregular segmented cylindrical body portion 54 having an integral annular mounting flange 55 at one end thereof, and bore 52 axially therethrough.

The body portion 54 of the cam 49 is provided with a peripheral surface portion comprising a curved upper surface portion 56 concentric to the horizontal axis-of said bore and being substantially symmetrical about a vertical axis through said bore axis, said upper curved surface extending for approximately two hundred sixty degrees of curvature. However, it is understood that the invention is not limited to such measure of curvature.

The terminals of said curved surface are connected by any suitable non-operative lower clearance surface adapted to provide clearance for the nose portions of the pawls during the period of engagement of the pawl dogs with the teeth of the endless drive means. Said nonoperative clearance surface preferably comprises a flat bottom portion 57 and a connecting arcuate recess 58.

The juncture of the upper curved surface 56 and the lower recess surface 58 provide a fixed edge or arris operative to engage and cause the revolvable pawls to abut thereagainst and be caused to be tipped-up to a position overlying a portion of a preceding tipped-up pawl. Said overlying disposition of the pawls constitutes a substantially proper orientation of the pawls for operative initial engagement with the teeth of the endless drive means, hereinafter described.

Outward displacement of the pawl is limited by its proximity and engageableness with the curved surface 56. Inward displacement of the pawl is limited by its overlying engagement with the preceding pawl.

It is preferred, though not necessary, that the nose portions of the pawls, hereinafter described, be spaced h'om the upper curved surface 56, as shown in FIG. 7, to provide relief against unwanted binding by the pawls in the event of imperfect machining. However, if desired, the curved cam surface can be disposed in close proximity to the nose portions and be in siidable engagement therewith.

The pawls generally indicated at 41, see FIGS. 6 and 7, comprise an extending dog portion 62, adapted for engagement with ring gear teeth hereinafter described, and an oppositely extending nose portion 63 adapted for engagement with the fixed cam 49.

Intermediate said dog portion and nose portion is a bore 42 adapted to receive a stud pin 39, for pivotal movement thereon. Said nose portion is actuated by said fixed cam 49 whereby the integral dog portion 62 is resultingly actuated and properly oriented for operative engagement with ring gear teeth, hereinafter described, and, after a power stroke, is tipped-up and away from said gear teeth in readiness for a later gear engagement. Said dog portion is of a length sufficient to overlay the nose portion of the preceding tipped-up pawl.

Said pawls 41 are operatively disposed, over a ring gear 64, to engage the teeth thereof. The ring gear 64 is disposed coaxially around the silo 10, and said ring gear rests on and is supported on the bottom 13 of trough 12. Said ring gear 64 is maintained spaced concentrically around the silo wall through means of a plurality of circumferentially disposed guide rollers, such as indicated at 65, rotatably mounted on equally spaced fixed shafts 66 vertically embedded in the bottom 13 of trough 12. Said rollers minimize the friction as the ring gear is driven revolvably around the silo and guide the ring gear circumferentially about its axis. Obviously, under some conditions it might be preferred to have the ring gear guided directly by the silo wall, in lieu of said rollers, such as by the abutment of the inner periphery of the ring gear against the outer periphery of the silo.

A plurality of equally spaced flights such as indicated at 67 are fixed on said ring gear through means of bolts 68, see FIG. 1. Said bolts are directed through apertures such as indicated at 69 in the ring gear, see FIG. 7. The flights rest on the bottom 13 of the trough 12, and when driven by the ring gear, are operative to propel and distribute feed delivered to the trough 12 from the silo chute.

Operation: Ensilage feed removed from the top surface of the ensilage in the silo, either manually or mechanically, is pitched into chute 11 and directed dovmwardly therein by gravity to discharge opening 18, and thence into annular feed trough 12. As the feed accumulates in the trough, under the discharge opening 18 of the chute, it is propelled and distributed around the annular trough by the plurality of slowly moving flight means 67. The flights move continuously and slowly so as not to injure or inconvenience the cattle as they feed from the trough.

The flights are connected to and driven by endless drive means such as ring gear 64. Obviously any endless drive means, such as an engageable cable means or chain means loop, can be used as well as said ring gear.

The ring gear is driven by means commencing with prime mover motor 22, input shaft 26, reduction gear means 19 in housing 20, output shaft 33, flange 37, studs 39, and revolvable pawls 41. Fixed cam 49 positions and orients said pawls, relative to the ring gear 64, for operative engagement with said ring gear.

As the pawls'revolve around fixed cam 49, each engages the ring gear teeth, such as indicated at 71, 72 and 73, see FIG. 7, and propels the ring gear and flights clockwise around the silo in the direction indicated by arrow 74, see FIG. 2.

The driven motion of the ring gear is not a start and stop, intermittent, interrupted or discontinuous motion. The motion imparted by the pawls to the ring gear is of a continuous slightly varying type of motion, free of the usual jarring and jolting impacts inherent in an interrupted or discontinuous type of motion.

Pawl 41A, see FIG. 7, is in the lowermost position of its cycle and therefore in its most efiicient and maximum drive position. As it proceeds clockwise to the left it drives the ring gear 64 along with it through means of its engagement with gear tooth 71.

Before pawl 41A has reached the end of its stroke at dotted line position 41A, pawl 41B has already engaged gear tooth 72 as indicated by dotted line position 413' and has taken over the work of driving the ring gear, and thus continues the motion of the ring gear, unbroken, except for a slight slowing down of motion of the ring gear when the work load is shifted from pawl 41A to pawl 4113.

The drive wheel 37 and the pawls and ring gear teeth means are so dimensioned and related that, as the drive wheel rotates, the pawls successively engage said teeth means, in timed and spaced relation, and each pawl comes into a position in which such pawl drives said endless drive means faster than the preceding pawl does at that instant and continues to so drive said endless drive means until the next succeeding dog comes to the position in which it in turn can drive faster.

The dotted line position 41A shows the position of pawl 41A substantially at the end of its power stroke, at which time its nose is engaged with the fixed tip-up arris 75 on fixed cam 49. As the pawl 41A continues to revolve about shaft 53, the fixed cam point 75, in abutment with the nose 63 of the pawl 41A, causes the pawl dog to be actuated in rotation about stud 39 such as indicated at 76, into a folded position overlying the 5 nose of the adjacent preceding pawl such as indicated at '77, with the dog portion of the pawl leading the nose portion, in revolution.

As the pawl continues its movement around the cam, its nose follows adjacent the cam surface 56 thereby limiting an outward displacement of the pawl dog and thus aiding in maintaining substantially the overlying and oriented disposition of the pawl. Inward displacement of the pawl dog is limited by its overlying engagement with the preceding tipped-up pawl.

As the pawl approaches its tooth engagement position, gravity influences the position of the pawl slightly, and its oriented position is shown by dotted line 78 with its nose slidably engaged against the cam portion 61 and its dog portion in a slanted position such as indicated at 7?, in readiness for engagement with the oncoming inclined edge 81 which guides the dog against the tooth 72. The overbalancing gravity effect of the pawl dog actuates the pawl nose into a limited position against the cam portion 61.

in the absence of such maintained oriented position, the dog portions of the pawls might depend substantially vertically downwardly, by gravity, and engage and jam onto the oncoming horizontal gear edge 82, thereby causing damage to the working parts and inoperativeness to the machine as a whole.

Some characteristic features of this invention are the provision of: (1) an ensilage distributor, around a silo, embodying a novel revolvable ratchet means for imparting continuous motion; (2) the provision of revolvable ratchet drive means embodying a fixed cam for tipping-up the ratchet pawls; and (3) the provision of revolvable ratchet drive means embodying a fixed cam having an operative curved surface for maintaining associated pawls in a substantially oriented position in readiness for engagement with an oncoming ring gear.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A distributing apparatus, comprising: a substantially horizontally disposed annular trough means; endless drive means supported for movement in and around said annular trough means, said endless drive means having engageable teeth means; flight means projecting from said endless drive means for engaging material in said annular trough means; a drive wheel rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis, said drive Wheel being disposed substantially over said endless drive means; a plurality of circumferentially disposed and equally spaced pawls pivotally mounted on said drive Wheel, said pawls comprising an elongated dog portion and a substantially oppositely extending nose portion, said dog portion being engageable with the teeth means of said endless drive means for actuating said endless drive means, the pivotal axis of said pawls being between said dog and nose portions thereof and parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive wheel; said drive wheel, pawls and teeth means being so related that, as said drive wheel rotates, the pawl dogs successively drivably engage said teeth means and continue to drive said endless drive means until the next succeeding pawl dog engages said teeth means and takes over the driving of said endless drive means resulting in a continuous slightly varying type of motion of said endless drive means; and fixed arcuate cam means disposed interiorly of said circumferentially arranged pawls for operative engagement with the nose portion of each of said pawls, said fixed cam comprising a curved upper surface concentric to the axis of rotation of said drive wheel, and the terminals of said curved surface being connected by a non-operative clearance surface, said clearance surface being adapted to be spaced from the path of a pawl nose during engagement of the associated pawl dog with the teeth of said endless drive means, and the juncture of said curved surface and said clearance surface, adjacent the end of the actuating stroke of said pawls, providing an operative arris, and said clearance surface being disposed substantially confronting the adjacent portion of said endless drive means; whereby when the nose portions of said pawls engage said arris the dog portions of said pawls are thereby caused to be tippedup, at the end of each actuating stroke of said pawls, to a position overlying the nose portion of a preceding tipped-up pawl and the associated nose portions disposed to a position adjacent said curved surface whereby said pawl nose portions aid in substantially maintaining said overlying position by means of the nose portions engageability with said curved surface to limit the outward displacement of said pawl dog portions and whereby said overlying position orients the pawl dogs for operative initial engagement with the teeth of said endless drive means, and whereby when said nose portions are disposed opposite said clearance surface said pawls are free to swing with respect to said drive wheel for engagement with said teeth means.

2. A distributing apparatus, comprising: a substantially horizontally disposed annular trough means; endless drive means supported for movement in and around said annular trough means, said endless drive means having engageable teeth means; flight means projecting from said endless drive means for engaging material in said annular trough means; a horizontally disposed drive shaft mounted for rotation above and transversely of an adjacent-portion of said endless drive means; a drive wheel fixed on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said drive wheel being disposed substantially over said endless drive means, and said drive wheel being spaced from an end of said drive shaft thereby providing a free outer end shaft extension; a plurality of circumferentially disposed and equally spaced studs fixed on said drive wheel, said studs extending over said shaft extension, and the axes of said studs being parallel to the axis of said shaft and on a circle concentric to the axis of said shaft; pawl pivotly mounted on said studs, said pawls comprising an elongated dog portion and a substantially oppositely disposed nose portion, said dog portion being engageable with the teeth means on said endless drive means for actuating said endless drive means, and the pivotal axis of said pawls being between the dog and nose portions of said pawls; said drive wheel, dog portions and teeth means being so related that, as said drive wheel rotates, the dog portions suscessively drivably engage said teeth means and continue to drive said endless drive means until the next succeeding dog portion engages said teeth means and takes over the driving of said endless drive means resulting in a continuous slightly varying type of motion of said endless drive means; and fixed substantially semi-circular cam means disposed interiorly of said circumferentially arranged pawls for operative engageahility with the nose portion of each of said pawls, said fixed cam means having a bore to receive said horizontal shaft extension rotatably engageable therein and having a peripheral surface therearound comprising a curved upper surface portion concentric to the horizontal axis of said bore and substan tially symmetrical about a vertical axis through the axis of said bore, the terminals of said curved surface being connected by a non-operative clearance surface, said clearance surface being adapted to be spaced from the path of a pawl nose portion during engagement of the associated pawl dog portion with the teeth of said endless drive means, and in the juncture of said curved surface and said clearance surface, adjacent the end of the actuating stroke of said pawl dogs, providing an operative arris, and said clearance surface being disposed confronting the adjacent portion of said endless drive means; whereby when the nose portions of said pawls face to limit the outward displacement of the pawl dog portions; and whereby said overlying position orients the pawl dogs for operative initial engagement with the teeth of said endless drive means; and whereby when said nose portions are disposed opposite said clearance surface said pawls are free to swing with respect to said drive wheel for engagement with said teeth means.

3. In a continuous motion ratchet, driven means ha ing engageable teeth means thereon; a drive shaft mounted for rotation above said driven means; a drive wheel fixed on .said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said drive wheel being disposed substantially over said driven means, and said drive wheel being spaced from the end of said drive shaft to provide an outer end shaft extension; a plurality of circumferentially disposed and equally spaced studs fixed on said drive wheel, said studs extending over said shaft extension, and the axes of said studs being parallel to the axis of said shaft and on a circle concentric to the axis of said shaft; pawls pivotally mounted on said studs, said pawls comprising an elongated dog portion and a substantially oppositely disposed nose portion, said dog portion being engageable with the teeth means of said driven means for driving said driven means, and the pivotal axis of said pawls being between the dog and nose portions of said pawls; whereby the dog portions successively drivably engage said teethmeans and continue to drive said driven means until the next succeeding dog portion engages said teeth means and takes over the driving of said endless drive means resulting in a continuous slightly varying type of motion of said endless drive means; fixed substantially semicircular cam means disposed interiorly of said circumferentially arranged pawls for operative engageability with the nose portion of each pawl, said fixed substantially semi-circular cam means having a bore to receive said shaft extension rotatably engageable therein, and said-fixed cam means having a peripheral surface therearound comprising a curved upper surface portion concentric to the axis of said bore and substantiallytsymmetrical about a vertical axis through the axis of said bore, the terminals of said curved surface being connected by a non-operative clearance surface said clearance surface being spaced from the path of a pawl nose portion during engagement of its associated pawl dog portion with a tooth of said driven means, and the juncture of said curved surface and said clearance surface, adjacent the end of the drive stroke of said pawl dogs, providing an operative arris, and said clearance surface being disposed confronting the adjacent portion of said driven means; whereby when the nose portions of said pawls engage said arris the associated dog portions thereof are caused to be tipped-up, at the end of each drive stroke of said pawl dogs, to a position overlying the nose portion of the preceding tipped-up pawl position orients the pawl dogs for operative initial engagement with the teeth means of'said driven means, and whereby when said nose portions are disposed op posite said clearance surface said pawls are free to swing with respect to said drive wheel for engagement with said teeth means during the remainder of said cycle of revolution of said pawls.

4. In a continuous motion ratchet, driven means having engageable teeth thereon; a drive wheel mounted for rotation adjacent said driven means; a plurality of circumferentially disposed pawls pivotally mounted on said drive wheel, said pawls comprising an elongated dog portion and a substantially oppositely extending nose portion, said dog portion being engageable with the teeth of said driven means for actuating said driven means, the pivotal axis of said pawls being between the dog and nose portions thereof and parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive wheel; whereby as the drive wheel rotates, each pawl dog successively drivably engages said teeth and continues to drive said driven means until the next succeeding pawl dog engages said teeth and takes over the driving of said driven means resulting in a continuous motion of said driven means; and fixed segmental cam means disposed interiorly of said circumferentially disposed pawls for operative engageability with the nose portion of each of said pawls, said cam means comprising an operative arcuate surface the terminals of which are connected by a nonoperative clearance surface, said clearance surface being of the associated pawl dog with the teeth of said driven means, and the juncture of said arcuate surface and said clearance surface, adjacent the end of the actuating stroke of said pawls, providing an operative arris, and said clearance surface being disposed substantially confronting the adjacent portion of said driven means; whereby when the nose portions of said pawls engage said arris the dog portions of said pawls are thereby caused to be tipped-up, at the end of each actuating stroke of said pawls, to a position overlying the nose portion of a preceding tipped-up pawl and the associated nose portions disposed to a position adjacent said arcuate surface whereby said pawl nose portions aid in substantially maintaining said overlying position of said dog portions by means of the nose portions adjacent to said arcuate surface to limit the outward displacement of the pawl dog portions, and whereby said overlying position substantially orients the pawl dogs for operative initial engagement with the teeth of said driven means, and whereby when said nose portions are disposed opposite said non-operative clearance surface said pawls are free to pivot with respect to said drive wheel for engagement with said teeth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,354,325 McMullin July 25, 1944 2,924,197 Haen Feb, 9, 1960 2,931,486 Zebarth Apr. 5, 1960 2,938,497 Bruecker May 31, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,068,839 December l8 1962 Gerald J. Bruecker It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 70, strike out "in",

Signed and sealed this 24th day of September 19630 (SEAL) Attest:

DAVID L. LADD ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

